Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrived at Auckland on Thursday morning, starting his official visit to New Zealand.

Xi made the tour as a guest of New Zealand Prime Minister John Key.

In a written speech distributed at the airport upon his arrival, Xi said currently the relationship between China and New Zealand is at its best time.

He said the two sides see frequent exchange of high-level visits, marked achievements have been scored in bilateral trade and economic cooperation, and cultural exchange has been deepened, which has brought substantial benefits to both countries and both peoples, and also contributed to the peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region at large.

The Chinese government has always attached importance to its relations with New Zealand, Xi said.

The Chinese vice president said he was looking forward to meeting with leaders and people from all walks of New Zealand, aiming at discussing new approaches to enhancing bilateral friendship and exploring new cooperation.

He said that he believes his visit would increase mutual trust, deepen friendship and expand cooperation, thus advancing the comprehensive bilateral cooperative relationship to a new starting point.

During his stay in New Zealand, Xi is expected to hold talks with John Key and meet with Governor-General Anand Satyanand and other leaders. The New Zealand is the third leg of Xi's four-nation visits. His last leg is Australia.